Education in Malta : a look to the future

Abstract

The collection of papers and documents published in this book represent UNESCO's contribution to the conviction that in-service education secures a systematic improvement of the quality and content of education and of teaching techniques. UNESCO's Division of Higher Education and Training of Educational Personnel, through the Foundation for International Studies and in collaboration with the Faculty of Education of the University of Malta and the Department of Education organized, between October 12-23, 1987, a National Workshop/or Further training of Educational Advisers and School Principals. The Workshop forms part of a global UNESCO project for the on-going training of Higher Educational Personnel. The work carried out here will enable UNESCO to organize an International comparative analysis of other similar workshops in the various host countries. The aim of the workshop was to evaluate the educational system of Malta and to make proposals for its Improvement through the best possible combination of centralized and decentralized approaches. Specialists from various sectors took part In this Important task. This helped to present a plethora of views as regards both the analysis of the evolution that has occurred in the recent past and a look to the future. An attempt was made by all readers to evaluate the contemporary educational panorama and to present working hypothesis for future developments. The participants examined through workshops and plenary sessions six particular themes: I. The Historical and Philosophlcal Analysis of the Maltese Educational System 2. The Impact of Examinations and Certifications 3. The Curriculum 4. Teacher Education S. Educational Support Services 6. Administration and Management as a service to education Each theme has been thoroughly explored through the reading of two working papers, workshop sessions for the Primary, the Secondary and the Technical Vocational Sectors and Plenary Sessions. Thematic studies by the various authors constitute the substantive part of this publication. These have to be considered as information or speculative documents that require continuous discussion and updating. The texts have been grouped in chapters according to the themes presented. Conclusions and recommendations synthesize the many fundamental ideas which have been designed at each workshop and plenary session. A welcome speech by the Hon Minister of Education, Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, and an introduction by the Chairman of the Faculty of Education, Professor Charles Farrugia, have been included as guidelines to an overall view of the many complex questions within which the Maltese Educational System functions. I wish to express my appreciation to all